Page 24 of Savage Obsession

If only she would take my call.

But I know one person I could ask who Casey will be glad to hear from. Janey.

“I need to speak to Kristian,’ I tell Julia, getting to my feet.

“Okay. Well, get on with it, then.” The resentment in her tone is unmistakeable. It always was when any mention of Kristian came up. Back in the day, Julia regarded him as her main rival for my affections and always accused me of putting him and his business before our marriage.

She had a point. Eventually I had to choose, and I didn’t choose her.

Well, not that time.

“It’s… complicated,” I begin. “Kristian and I?—”

“How can it be complicated? He’s your boss, isn’t he? Your best friend.”

“Not anymore. He… he fired me.”

She gapes at me, her jaw dropping. “He did what? Why?”

“Because of you, actually. Because I insisted on dropping everything and coming to Poland after you called. He needed me in Tenerife, or so he said.”

“You didn’t agree?

“No one is indispensable. And anyway, you needed me more. Lily needed me.”

She sinks onto the bed. “I thought you always said… What about your precious oath?”

She’s referring to my oath of obedience to Kristian, an obligation she never really understood and always bitterly resented, but she knows how important it was to me. And how binding.

“I broke it,” I reply. “I went against a clear instruction, and that’s unforgivable. It means the end of my career, if not my life.”

“Christ,” she breathes. “I never thought… I mean, I never realised that you would…”

“It’s done now, and to be honest, I’d do the same again. But it leaves us with another problem apart from my unemployment and the likely possibility that Kristian will order my death?—”

“He wouldn’t! You’re his friend.”

“I was. I don’t think he’s taken any action yet, but he might.”

“That’s… barbaric. Surely, he wouldn’t do anything violent. He… he owes you.”

“It doesn’t work like that. I owed him. Loyalty, service, obedience. I broke my promise.”

“For your daughter. He has to understand that. What else could you do?”

“Like I say, our rules are different. I knew what I was doing, I made my choice.” And now, I’m going to have to go back and plead with him for help. Not a prospect I relish, but there’s no other way. I need Janey to put me in touch with Casey Savage, so I’ll do what has to be done.

CHAPTER 6

Janey

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Sleepily, I roll over in his arms. “Kris?”

“I wasn’t,” he rumbles. “Go back to sleep.”

“I’m awake now. Who was it?” I shove myself up onto one elbow as the persistent ringing stops.

“How would I know? I didn’t answer.”

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